Water Shuttle/Tendering in Lahaina and Kona Hawaii

[abbottfam]

My family and I are new to cruises, and we've booked a cabin on the December 22 cruise to Hawaii.  The itenerary states that both Lahaina and Kona stops will require water shuttle service.   What should we expect?  We're booking some of our own activities, due to many of the ones offered by princess already being full, I tried to ask princess support how tendering works for people who've booked their own activities and they just kept insisting 'it won't be a problem' without providing any information about 'how' the process would actually work. 

[NownZen]

It will not be a problem if you do not mind waiting in line for a long time. 3000 passenger, 100 per lifeboat needs 30 trips. They run more than one shuttle but it depends on how far out you are. We have stood in line for hours at various stops.

[NownZen]

Also, the first shuttles are all reserved for the Princess excursions and the elite/suite passengers so you are at the back of the line if you are going in on your own.

When you are docked, you can get on and off as you please with no delay.

But, if you have a nice day riding the shuttle in and out a few times can be fun.

[trvlwrld]

Lahaina is no longer a port...overnite in Honolulu and an extra day

[katisdale]

Specifically, you will go to a designated area (usually not the same area as those with "loyalty status" nor those with Princess excursions). When you get there you will be given an identifier (number, animal, color, etc.). When your identifier is called you will follow an escort to the water shuttle boarding area. It has been years - late 1990's at least - since we were in a scrum to get off at a port. You will wait as the shuttle is slowly filled.

[Astro Flyer]

13 minutes ago, trvlwrld said:

Lahaina is no longer a port...overnite in Honolulu and an extra day

Either you or Princess are wrong because they show a day in Lahaina.

 

[abbottfam]

36 minutes ago, NownZen said:

Also, the first shuttles are all reserved for the Princess excursions and the elite/suite passengers so you are at the back of the line if you are going in on your own.

When you are docked, you can get on and off as you please with no delay.

But, if you have a nice day riding the shuttle in and out a few times can be fun.

SO if the ship arrives at 7am like they say, I shouldn't plan to start any self-organized activities onshore before 9am? 10am?  No way to get to the 'front' of the line other than having a million cruise days?

[NownZen]

1 minute ago, abbottfam said:

SO if the ship arrives at 7am like they say, I shouldn't plan to start any self-organized activities onshore before 9am? 10am?  No way to get to the 'front' of the line other than having a million cruise days?

The ship may arrive at 7am but often it takes awhile to get through the port formalities. The excursions tend to start 8-9 or 9:30 (check on your cruise) and then it is easier to get off. But, as Katidale said above, you go to a waiting area and take a number/tag to be called in order.

Going to the waiting area early will help. The elite level is only 150 days. Or you could reserve a suite. It is best to not be in a hurry.

[Yehootu]

Princess is going to get the people who booked through them on excursions first off. These excursions don't all leave at the same time. Not all Elite ( loyalty status ) people will want to get off as soon as they can. Check roll calls and ask from reviews what others experienced.

[azbirdmom]

45 minutes ago, Astro Flyer said:

Either you or Princess are wrong because they show a day in Lahaina.

 

You beat me to the answer. I’m in Maui and there is supposed to be a ship in Lahaina later this week. 

[Astro Flyer]

42 minutes ago, azbirdmom said:

You beat me to the answer. I’m in Maui and there is supposed to be a ship in Lahaina later this week. 

☺️
 

My cousin is sailing Sapphire in mid-November and had Lahaina replaced with Kona…no stop in Maui. Cruise sailing from LA on October 4 docks in Kahului so it’s understandable there will be confusion because it can vary with each cruise.

 

[azbirdmom]

2 hours ago, Astro Flyer said:

☺️
 

My cousin is sailing Sapphire in mid-November and had Lahaina replaced with Kona…no stop in Maui. Cruise sailing from LA on October 4 docks in Kahului so it’s understandable there will be confusion because it can vary with each cruise.

 

 

Oddly other cruise lines seem to be making it into Lahaina.  But we walked around Lahaina Harbor yesterday and they are still working on the ferry dock so it's understandable why they don't want a lot of traffic.  Good to see more ships coming into Lahaina - for the sake of both the passengers and the Front Street merchants.

 

[NavyVeteran]

5 hours ago, abbottfam said:

My family and I are new to cruises, and we've booked a cabin on the December 22 cruise to Hawaii.  The itenerary states that both Lahaina and Kona stops will require water shuttle service.   What should we expect?  We're booking some of our own activities, due to many of the ones offered by princess already being full, I tried to ask princess support how tendering works for people who've booked their own activities and they just kept insisting 'it won't be a problem' without providing any information about 'how' the process would actually work. 

Princess has two Hawaii cruises embarking on December 22, 2022 - one from Los Angeles on the Crown Princess and one from San Francisco on the Royal Princess.

 

The following information is from the Princess website. The Crown Princess cruise from Los Angeles stops at Kauai (Nawiliwili), Hilo, Honolulu, and Kahului with no mention of water shuttles. The Royal Princess cruise from San Francisco stops at Honolulu (overnight), Maui (Lahaina), and Kona with water shuttles required in Maui (Lahaina) and Kona.

 

The Crown Princess is a smaller ship than the Royal Princess, so it can dock in some places that the Royal cannot.

 

Based on your question, I believe you are on the Royal Princess out of San Francisco.

 

I suggest you join the roll call for your cruise. That would be the best place to exchange information with people sailing on your specific cruise. Each of the two Hawaii cruises on December 22nd has its own roll call - Crown Princess from Los Angeles and Royal Princess from San Francisco.

[NownZen]

3 minutes ago, NavyVeteran said:

Princess has two Hawaii cruises embarking on December 22, 2022 - one from Los Angeles on the Crown Princess and one from San Francisco on the Royal Princess.

 

The following information is from the Princess website. The Crown Princess cruise from Los Angeles stops at Kauai (Nawiliwili), Hilo, Honolulu, and Kahului with no mention of water shuttles. The Royal Princess cruise from San Francisco stops at Honolulu (overnight), Maui (Lahaina), and Kona with water shuttles required in Maui (Lahaina) and Kona.

 

The Crown Princess is a smaller ship than the Royal Princess, so it can dock in some places that the Royal cannot.

 

Based on your question, I believe you are on the Royal Princess out of San Francisco.

 

I suggest you join the roll call for your cruise. That would be the best place to exchange information with people sailing on your specific cruise. Each of the two Hawaii cruises on December 22nd has its own roll call - Crown Princess from Los Angeles and Royal Princess from San Francisco.

A good reason for avoiding the megaships.

[rocklinmom]

16 hours ago, abbottfam said:

My family and I are new to cruises, and we've booked a cabin on the December 22 cruise to Hawaii.  The itenerary states that both Lahaina and Kona stops will require water shuttle service.   What should we expect?  We're booking some of our own activities, due to many of the ones offered by princess already being full, I tried to ask princess support how tendering works for people who've booked their own activities and they just kept insisting 'it won't be a problem' without providing any information about 'how' the process would actually work. 

We are considering booking this cruise as well. Are the shore excursions really that full already? Do you recall which ones are fully booked? That could make me book sooner than later. And the advice given above is spot on for the "water shuttles" (I liked it better when they called them tenders). 

[NavyVeteran]

56 minutes ago, rocklinmom said:

We are considering booking this cruise as well. Are the shore excursions really that full already? Do you recall which ones are fully booked? That could make me book sooner than later. And the advice given above is spot on for the "water shuttles" (I liked it better when they called them tenders). 

You may want to consider booking the cruise on the Crown Princess out of Los Angeles instead. The smaller ship has one more port and no water shuttle ports. Most excursions are still available:

• Kauai (Nawiliwili): One excursion to Waimea Canyon is still available. Most of the others are sold out.
• Hilo: Most excursions are still available.
• Honolulu: Pearl Harbor excursions are sold out. Most of the others are still available.
• Kahului: Only three excursions are listed. Atlantis Submarine Adventure is still available. The other two are sold out.
• Ensenada: All excursions are still available. A few have limited availability, but most have extensive availability.

[rocklinmom]

Thank you Navy Veteran, I appreciate you checking on those. We actually live only 2 hours from San Fran so would sail from there, easier and cheaper to drive. 

[cruisequeen4ever]

The tendering process isn’t bad as long as you have an excursion booked, get up early to be in one of the first groups, or don’t mind leaving the ship later. Yes, there will be a long line to return, and that sucks, but it’s not a deal breaker IMO. 

[JF - retired RRT]

18 hours ago, trvlwrld said:

Lahaina is no longer a port...overnite in Honolulu and an extra day

Depends on the cruise. Nov. 2 cruise is docking in Kahului and no HNL overnight.

[JF - retired RRT]

17 hours ago, NownZen said:

The ship may arrive at 7am but often it takes awhile to get through the port formalities. The excursions tend to start 8-9 or 9:30 (check on your cruise) and then it is easier to get off. But, as Katidale said above, you go to a waiting area and take a number/tag to be called in order.

Going to the waiting area early will help. The elite level is only 150 days. Or you could reserve a suite. It is best to not be in a hurry.

Also, everyone in your party has to show up to get that "golden ticket". You can't collect for anyone but yourself.

[sloopsailor]

6 hours ago, JF - retired RRT said:

Depends on the cruise. Nov. 2 cruise is docking in Kahului and no HNL overnight.

 

Different ship. Ruby is a smaller ship so has a different itinerary. The next Hawaii cruise out of San Francisco on Nov 27 is on Royal, which has the overnight in Honolulu. Royal will be doing the rest of the Hawaii season out of San Francisco after that. 

Edited September 29, 2022 by sloopsailor

[Thrak]

6 hours ago, JF - retired RRT said:

Also, everyone in your party has to show up to get that "golden ticket". You can't collect for anyone but yourself.

 

This bears repeating. One can not show up and collect a ticket for tender boarding for anybody but themselves. If there are two of you then you both must show up to get your ticket and wait. If there are 4 in the party then all 4 must show up together to get a tender (water shuttle) ticket.

 

Once you have your ticket you sit there and wait for your group to be called.